Front wheel spindle and bearing assembly



Jan. 2, 1951 K. LYMAN FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE AND BEARING ASSEMBLY FiledMarch 10, 1947 INVENTOR KENNETH E. LYMAN ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1951Kenneth .ELLyman, .Lake Forest, '-Ill assignor to .Tucker Corporation,Chicago, 111., a corporation of'Delaware :Appli'eation March." 1 0,1947, Serial No. 7 33,631

2 Claims. (01308- 2361) The present invention relates to the mounting ofthe front wheel of :an automobile and is concerned primarily with-thespindle and bearingv as sembly on which the wheel is mounted.

At the present time the servicingof an automobile requires from time totime .the lubrication of the hearings in which -.the wheels arevjournaled. The present invention is predicated largely on the beliefthat the owner :of near willlfind it more satisfactory if .a bearingassembly is provided which will Joe permanently lubricated at the timeof assembly and remain in this condition :during thelife of the car.

According-1y, thisinvention hasasits primal-objective the provision, inan automohile'including a wheel, of a bearing and wheel mountingassembly which includes race assemblies with a lubricant therefor thatis permanently incorporated into the bearings at'the factory.

More in detail the invention has as an object the provision of a bearingassembly of the character indicated which includes a bearing blockformed with a cylindrical bore, race assemblies within .said bore, and awheel carrying axle rotatably supported by said races within said borein spaced relation thereto. The lubricant is contained ineachraceassembly.

To the end of lending permanency to this assembly one .element of eachbearing race is mor-e or less permanently secured to the block whiletheeomplemental element is afiixed in a similar manner to the axle.These bearing elements are not susceptible of removal from parts towhich they are attached at the ordinary garage or service station butmust be returned to the factory as a unit if any repairs are to be madethereto.

Itis lhig'hly importantthat the axle at all times be held within thebearing block. Accordingly, a .inrther object .lies .in the provision ofa means for maintaining this relation. In attaining this end the inner.free endof the axle is iormed with a groove with an inclined walladapted to function as a cam. A spring retaining ringlis snapped intothis grooveand has a tendency to contract. The projecting part of this.ringengages-a bearingrace while the inner part engages the inclinedwall. Thus, there is .aeomtant tendency to-draw the axle into thebore-of the bearing block.

-Still another-object of theinventioni to provide a new and improvedspindle for rotatably mounting the hearing-block on the'rramework ofacaraon .a substantiallyvertieal axis soyas toaocommodate the steeringoperation. Inac'hieving this object the'bearing Jolockis provided:with'upper'and lower wells on substantially horizontal planes. Receivedin each well .is :a bearing :race assembly that in turn receives:a'studcarried by the framework.

Various other :more detailed "objects and advantages of the invention,.such as arise in connection with carrying outthe :above noted ideas in:a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part behereinafter stated as the description of the .invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises :a Ifront wheel spindle and bearingassembly consisting of a bearing block having :a bore which is rotatablyFor a full and more :complete understanding of the invention, referencemay -he had to the following description and accompanying draw- .ingswherein:

Figure 1 is -.a vertical section through a fron wheel :of .a motorvehicle which is amounted on a spindle and hearing assembly designed'in"ac-' cordance with -:the',precepts of this invention; and

Figure .2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing of :the spring:retainer :and axle with which it cooperates.

Referring now to "the drawing wherein like reference characters *denotecorresponding parts and :first more particularly to Figure .1, a wheeland associated parts are identified in their zentirety by the referencecharacter W. As illustrated in the drawing, the wheel W is intended to:be the front wheel-of a motor vehicle. ;Itiis drivablymounted on anaxle ll).

That portion of the framework :of a car with which this inventionconcerned is referred to generally :as framework IF includes an upperhorizontally extending member ln'l and a corresponding lower member .12.fIlhese members project -to.utwardly of the iramework F and adjacent totheir tree-ends are formed withwer- 3 tical openings l3 and i4 which aresubstantially of the same dimensions and in alignment. The opening 63 isformed with an annular groove l5 and the opening [4 is provided with asimilar annular groove [6. The purpose of these grooves will be laterpointed out.

A trunnion I! is positioned in the opening l3 and held in this positionby a snap retaining ring [8 which is seated in the groove l5. Shims l9may be interposed between the upper end of the trunnion I! and theretaining ring 18 to assure proper positioning of the trunnion H. Thelower end of the trunnion ll is reduced to provide a stud 29 which isspaced from the trunnion I! by shoulder 2|.

Likewise, a trunnion 22 is positioned in the opening [4 and held thereinby a snap ring 23 that is seated in the groove 5. Shims 24 may beinterposed between the trunnion 22 and ring 23 when the trunnion 22carries an upward extending stud 25 and is defined by a shoul- The block21 is formed with an upper well 28 in which is positioned a bearingassembly 29. The stud carries the inner race element of this assembly 29while the block 21 carries the outer race. In this position the shoulder2| abuts the bearing race assembly 29. A dust guard 9 is positionedaround the trunnion ll above the bearing race assembly 29. It will benoted that the space between the race elements of the assembly 29 isclosed by sealing rings 8 and a suitable lubricant is permanentlycontained between these sealing rings within the race elements.

In a similar manner the block 21 is formed with a lower well 39 in whichis positioned a bearing race assembly 3|. The stud extends upwardly intothis race assembly 3| and carries an inner race element thereof. Thebearing race assembly 3| rests on the shoulder 25 and another dust guardsimilar to the dust guard 9 may be positioned around the trunnion 22 andunder the bearing race assembly 3|. The lubricant for the race assembly3| is also sealed in by rings 8 as above described.

It is evident that the trunnions I1 and 22 with the studs 20 and 25serve to pivotally mount the bearing block 2! on a vertical axis.

The block 21 is formed with a cylindrical bore 32 into which extends theaxle Ill. A bearing race assembly identified in its entirety by thereference characterB is interposed between the axle l3 and bore 32 atone end and a similar bearing assembly B1 assumes a similar position atthe inner end. The bore 32 is formed with an annular groove 33 whichreceives an expansion snap ring 34 that serves to position the hearingassembly B. Adjacent its outer end the bore may also be formed withanother annular groove which receives a dust guard 35.

The bore 32 is formed with another annular groove 36 in which is seatedan expansion snap ring-31 that limits the inner movement of the bearingassembly B1. The inner end of the bore 32 is closed by a cover plate 38.The inner end of the axle i0 is formed with a groove designated 39. Uponreferring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the groove 39 is defined bya wall 39 that it normal to the axis of the axleand a wall 4| which isinclined with respect to the axis. A spring retaining ring 42 havingnormal tendency to contract is snapped into the groove 39. That portionof the ring 42 which projects be- 4, yond the outer cylindrical surfaceof the axle In engages the bearing assembly B1 while that portion whichextends into the groove engages the inclined wall 4|. The latterfunctions as a cam so that the effect of the spring ring 42 is toconstantly exert a tendency tending to draw the axle Ill into the bore32 of the block 21.

Each of the bearing assemblies B and B1 includes an outer race element43 which is tightly positioned in the bore 32 of the block 21. Thisrelation may be obtained by freezing the race 43 prior to insertion intothe bore 32 soas to cause its contraction due to the loweredtemperature. It is inserted in its frozen condition and as it loses itscondition it warms up and expands into the tight fit required. Each ofthe bearing assemblies B and B1 also includes an inner race element 44which is firmly afiixed to the axle III. This relation may beaccomplished in substantially the same manner; that is, freezing theaxle 10 before it is placed within the elements 44. Subsequent expansionwill attain the tight fit required.

Each of the bearing assemblies B and B1 is permanently lubricated by theapplication of a proper lubricant between the race elements and whichlubricant is held therein by sealing rings 8 that have their edgesfitted in confronting grooves of the respective race elements. If abearing assembly should become disordered, it may be removed as a unit,replaced by another new unit, and returned to the factory for servicing.

While preferred specific embodiments of the invention are hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the exact construction and steps illustrated and describedbecause various modifications of these details may be provided inputting the invention into practice within the purview of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bearing assembly of the character described, a bearing blockhaving a cylindrical bore formed with annular grooves spaced from theends thereof, a wheel carrying axle extending into said bore in spacedrelation with respect thereto, bearing race assembly at one end of saidbore between said axle and block, an ex pansion spring ring received inone of said grooves and engaging said bearing race assembly to positionthe same, a second bearing race assembly at the other end of said borebetween said tively secured to said block and an inner race elementpositively secured to said axle.

2. In a bearing assembly of the character described, a bearing blockhaving a cylindrical bore formed with annular grooves spaced from theends thereof, a wheel carrying axle extending into said bore in spacedrelation with respect thereto, a bearing race assembly at one end ofsaid bore between said axle and block, an expansion spring ring receivedin one of said grooves and engaging said bearing race assembly toposition the same, a second bearing race assembly at the other end ofsaid bore between said axle and block, an expansion spring ringreceiving in the other of said grooves and engaging said last mentionedbearing race assembly to position the same. each of. said bearing 5 raceassemblies including an outer race element positively secured to saidblock and an inner race element positively securely to said axle, thefree end of said axle being formed with an annular groove having aninclined wall, and a, contraction spring ring seated in said groove andengaging said inclined wall and one of said bearing race assemblieswhereby it exerts a tendency normally drawing said axle into said bore.

KENNETH E. LYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Karle June 6, 1922Buchanan Oct. 23, 1934 Baker Aug. 25, 1936 Ankeny Oct. 13, 1936 Ash July2, 1940 Hughes July 2, 1940- Garnett Oct. 21, 1941 Garnett Apr. 27, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany May 27, 1930

